The Springboks enter the game with a seven match unbeaten run against the French that dates back to 2010. The Springboks' last defeat to the French was on 13 November 2009, when they lost 20-13 at Stadium Municipal, Toulouse.

The World Champions are, however, expecting a tough day at the office and they know they will have to dominate the game upfront.

The Springbok flanker, Pieter-Steph du Toit, said the French can match them at their own game, and they will need to be creative in combating this.

"Teams have come up with ways to stop our maul and they've come up with some new tricks that we haven't experienced in the past," said the former World Rugby Player of the Year.

"The newer tricks and stuff we experience from them, the better we'll be able to adapt, so the more tricks that come our way, the faster we'll adapt.

"It's also going to be difficult to match them upfront because they've got the biggest pack in rugby right now.

"We'll definitely make one or two other plans because they can match our physicality."

Saturday’s Test at the Stade Velodrome will kick-off at 22:00.

France - TBA

Springboks - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nché.

Replacements - 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Makazole Mapimpi.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport